To Thomas Jefferson from Jonathan Jones, 25 August 1787
From Jonathan Jones
Bordeaux 25. august. 1787.
Sir
The Protection you are pleased to give, to every object that Interests the American Trade, encourages me to address you the Present: and will Serve to hand you Copy of a Memorial that the Merchants of Bordeaux have this day addressed Mr. Villedeuil Comptroleur General, stateing the Number of Hogsheads Tobacco now in Store, and what is further expected to arrive shortly; by which you will please to observe, that the quantity is but Small, Considered as an object for the fermiers Generaux; but which falls heavy on the Particulars, who have made Large advances on the Tobaccos recieved, or are under acceptances for near the full Value.
The Merchants of Bordx. Look up to your Excellency with Confidence, for Support in this affair; and beg Leave to Sollicit your warm interest, by representing to the Comptroleur General all the hardships we Lay under at this moment, occasioned by the fermiers Generaux ceasing at once their purchases of Tobacco, under pretext that they have Complied with the orders of the Comitée of Berni; but which appears to us rather Dubious, seeing that the Trade of Bordeaux has not been able to place more than 800 to 900 hogsheads at the prices fixed by the Comitée.
Begging Leave to be referred to the enclosed for further particulars, I have the honor to be with the most Perfect Consideration Sir Your most obedient & most humble Servant,
Jona: Jones
RC (MoSHi); endorsed. Recorded in SJL as received 29 Aug. 1787. Enclosure (MoSHi): Copy of a memorial of the merchants of Bordeaux to Villedeuil, Controller General, dated 14 Aug. 1787, stating that they have benefited very little from the regulations set forth in Calonne’s letter to TJ of 22 Oct. 1786 because, when their tobacco began arriving from America, the farmersgeneral ceased buying that commodity under the pretext that they had bought their quota; they ask that Villedeuil require the farmers to comply with the agreement of Berni; if this is not done, the merchants will suffer a considerable loss; a statement of tobacco received and expected by the various merchants of Bordeaux is attached showing that such firms as Marois, Galway & Carré, French & Neveu, and others—there were nine in all—had received 2,871 hogsheads and were expecting 1,200 more.